LAC LA BICHE - Chat Box, a monthly program run by Lac La Biche County FCSS, is designed to give parents or caregivers and their children aged between seven and 12, an opportunity to have one-on-one and small group discussions on important topics affecting youngsters today.
Deb Menard, an FCSS community outreach worker says the objective of the Chat Box program is to get parents and caregivers talking together to open lines of communication and understand each other’s viewpoints.
“It’s beneficial for families to learn more about important topics affecting their kids and society today,” Menard told Lakeland This Week.
The Chat Box program is held once a month on Mondays from 5:30-7 p.m. from October to May, with a new topic each time. Each session starts out with participants enjoying a free meal while doing an icebreaker activity as a group.
During the 90-minute session, attendees watch a presentation containing information about the topic, participate in discussions, and also play games to test what they have learned.
The first session took place on Oct. 21 and was focused on Emotional Intelligence, explained by Menard as the ability for an individual to manage both their own emotions and understand the emotions of people around them.
Upcoming Chat Box sessions on Nov. 18 and Dec. 16 will have discussions on how youngsters can cope with major changes in their lives such as their parents going through a divorce, or making a move to new community, as well as social anxiety and how it can be dealt with.
“Kids with social anxiety worry so much about how other people will perceive or judge them that they avoid doing things they need or want to do,” Menard said. “It can be painful to watch your child struggle in should-be-fun settings, but there are a few strategies — paired with a good dose of patience — that experts and fellow parents have found to be helpful.”
According to Menard, topics that will be covered in the sessions that start up again in January and run until May include eating and exercise habits, conflict resolution, climate change and environmental protectionism, along with how to maintain a positive attitude.
Both positive and negative thoughts and emotions play a valuable role in how people process the world around them, she added.
“Positive thinking is important because it broadens your sense of possibility and opens your mind, allowing you to build new skills,” she said.
The Chat Box program, Menard explained, started in January of this year. Using her role as a community outreach worker, Menard set out to create a program that would get parents, guardians and their children talking and spending quality time together.
“Also, it’s always important to educate families on important issues and strategies to mitigate these challenges,” she stated.
Participants can register for one or all of the Chat Box sessions. There is a maximum of 16 people permitted for each session.
